Penguin Drill Jackets for First Win; 7 – 2

One of the myriad of problems that plagued the Pittsburgh Penguins last season was a lack of killer instinct. Last season’s rendition of our beloved black-n-gold would often lose to teams that they should have beaten. Last night they took on a Columbus Blue Jackets’ team, defanged over the off-season due to Free Agent (FA) defections (Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, and Artemi Panarin) and coming in on the back end of a back-to-back series. They (the Blue Jackets) were ripe for the picking, and unlike last year, this year’s Penguins did reap the harvest.

Last season’s incarnation of Pittsburgh’s Hockey club lacked a killer’s instinct. Even when they would take the lead on teams and looked like they had their opponents on the ropes, they would let them up and either lose outright or at least cede 1 point to the other team by waiting until Over Time (OT) or Shoot Out (SO) to win. Last night, in the 2nd period, they began to look like sharks at a feeding frenzy.

Question, was this a Pyrrhic victory?

Right before our locals found their scoring touch again, Evgeni Malkin burning with the fire that had him ripping his team after their last loss, charged through the neutral zone only to have teammate Kris Letang trip him up and send him awkwardly into the boards on his knees. As the big bear of a Center skidded toward the boards, fellow Russian Vladislav Gavrikov, playing Defense for the Blue Jackets, threw his shoulder into him (Malkin). The Assistant Captain did not return.

Hopefully, Malkin wasn’t hurt that bad and that his absence the rest of the game was just a precaution, since the team was finding themselves.

Along with the Penguins’ second line Center, Malkin, our seafaring sphenisciformes lost their 3rd line Center during the game as well. Nick Bjugstad left the ice at 6:35 of the 3rd period with an undisclosed injury and didn’t return.

Hopefully, neither of our boys-of-winters’ Centers will be absent for next game. Due to administrative (Cap) issues on this team, they have precious little maneuver room. The team went into the regular season carry no reserve forwards and 9 Defensemen but with 23 players on the roster (the maximum allowed).

The problem the team may face Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets, if neither player is able to play that night nor suffering a long term injury, is how to replace them (Malkin and Bjugstad) in the lineup. Only John Marino is waiver exempt. Coach Mike Sullivan may have to either risk exposing a player to waivers to bring up 2 forwards to bolster a depleted roster or play with 7 Defensemen.

Now that I think about it, I have another question, why can’t this team stand prosperity? Why do they always seem to need adversity to come together?

While we are at it, kudos to team Captain, Sidney Crosby for standing up to the Blue Jacket Bullies. Late in the 2nd period, the Jackets, Pierre-Luc DuBois decided to hit Jake Guentzel with his shoulder high, near the Penguins’ wingers head. Captain Crosby got the number of that offender, so that when DuBois, emboldened by the referees’ lack of notice, cross-checked Guentzel’s Captain and pivot man, Crosby dropped his gloves immediately and showed the Jacket Defenseman that he wasn’t going to sit idly by while liberties were taken with his team. In a show of strength and an interesting scrum, where few punches were thrown, Crosby twisted his opponent around and around, finally into a ball, and threw him on the ice.

When the final tick struck on the game clock, 4 Penguins’ forwards had multi-point nights; Jared McCann led the way with 2 Goals and 1 Assist. Captain Crosby, Patric Hornqvist and newcomer Alex Galchenyuk picked up 2 points each as our favorite flightless fowl found the back of the net for a full touchdown, 7 goals.

Yes there were some concerns other than the injuries, particularly in that first frame, like several opposing forwards getting behind the defense, and Columbus managing 30 shots on goal, but even deprived of their assistant Captain Malkin and 3rd line Center Bjugstad, our aquatic avians seemed to get stronger as the game went along and the team did what they were supposed to do; put away a team that they should have and need to.

Odds and Sods

The Wilkes Barre – Scranton Penguins with their new Head Coach Mike Vellucci started the season off with a win over the Hershey Bears 4 – 3. Prospects Anthony Angello and Jake Lucchini scored Goals. Angello scored the game winner. Other Prospects; Niclas Almari, Kevin Czuczman, Ryan Haggerty, Adam Johnson, Oula Palve, and David Warsovsky found the score sheet as well. Johnson picked up 2 Assists to lead that group. Casey DeSmith stopped 36 of 39 shots to back stop the Baby Penguins to a victory.

Next up Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night, 7:00PM at PPG Paints Arena

Go Pens!!